Billy Joel’s Answer to This Vanderbilt Student’s Question Resulted in the ‘Greatest Moment’ of His Young Life

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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 12: Billy Joel performs at ’12-12-12′ a concert benefiting The Robin Hood Relief Fund to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy presented by Clear Channel Media & Entertainment, The Madison Square Garden Company and The Weinstein Company at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2012 in New York City. Credit: Getty Images for Clear Channel

During a recent Q&A at Vanderbilt University, legendary musician Billy Joel made one of his biggest fans’ dreams come true by answering “okay” to the student’s question.

Lifelong Billy Joel fan Michael Pollack, also a piano player, bravely asked if he could “accompany” Joel in a performance of “New York State of Mind.” Pollack told Joel it was his favorite of his songs.

Joel paused briefly, thought about it, and then nonchalantly replied, “Okay.” The crowd erupted in cheers at his answer.

After a very brief interaction, Pollack was playing music with his childhood idol.

“[F]rom there, it was just … foggy. It’s hard to remember,” he told InsideVandy. “I just started playing. I had practiced it a little bit thinking maybe I’d get the chance to go up … I kind of lost myself playing. Then afterward he said to me … he said that I was great, where are you from … and I said, ‘I’m a Long Islander just like you.’ He was like, ‘Cool.’ Then I walked off, and that was it … It was probably the greatest moment of my life, up to date.”